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Talk to the hand (Cagliari)
"Talk to the hand" (or "tell it to the hand") is an English language slang phrase associated with the 1990s. It originated in African American Vernacular English as a contemptuous and urbanized way of saying that no one is listening, and is often elongated to a phrase such as "Talk to the hand, because the ear's not listening" or "Talk to the hand, (be)cause the face don't understand". "Talk to the hand" is often considered to be a sarcastic, or obnoxious phrase, and is commonly associated with urban black youths, especially black women, as well as teenage valley girls who adopted it. The phrase was popularized by actor and comedian Martin Lawrence in his 1992 sitcom Martin. It is usually accompanied by the gesture of extending one arm toward the other person, with the palm of that hand facing the person being insulted, in the manner of the gesture to stop.
[edit] References in popular culture
- "Talk to the hand, 'cos the face don't wanna hear it no more" was spoken by Dr. Evil in 1999's Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me.
- In Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, Arnold Schwarzenegger's character, T-101, learnt the phrase at his first encounter with humans, and used it again, to demonstrate his ability to learn human behavior.
- In the Will & Grace episode "Dames at Sea," Karen Walker tells her maid Rosario Salazar, "Talk to the boob!"
- In a 1999 episode of The Simpsons, entitled Wild Barts Can't Be Broken the use of current slang phrases as television sitcom titles is parodied. The Simpson family is seen channel surfing, and instead of a show Homer is watching, called Don't Go There, Marge expresses her preference for a show entitled Talk to the Hand, starring David Faustino. The fictional show's theme song is heard, with the lyrics being sung by a studio chorus: "Talk to the hand!/The face ain't listenin'!"
- Chris Tucker says the phrase to Bruce Willis in The Fifth Element.
- Michael Youn made a parody song based on the expression, called "Parle à ma main".
- Ali G, the comedy character of Sacha Baron Cohen, made his own version: "Talk to da hand, 'cause the face, i' ain' listenin'"
- "Talk to the hand!/The face ain't listening" is a musical number from Jerry Springer: The Opera
- "Talk to the Hand: The Utter Bloody Rudeness of the World Today, or Six Good Reasons to Stay Home and Bolt the Door" is the title of a 2005 book by Lynne Truss.
- Marko Saaresto, lead vocalist of the Finnish rock band Poets of the Fall uses the phrase "Talk to the hand!" to conclude each chorus of the song "Don't Mess with Me" during live performances
- In the Dilbert episode "The Fact," Dogbert uses the phrase to silence a scientist during an interview.
- In the Sinfest web-comic strip [1] God says so to The Devil. God is presented in the comic as a Giant Hand of God.
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